Wire package including encased spool

ABSTRACT

A spool of wire is encased in a cylindrical casing provided with an axially aligned slot for dispensing the wire. The spool has an outer flange with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the casing so that a portion of the flange is juxtaposed to an end of the slot. The free end of the wire is detachably connected to said portion by a piece of masking tape or the like. A post in the casing supports the spool and O-rings on the post to prevent movement of the spool from the casing.

United States Patent 970,394 9/1910 Redpath lnventor Raymond Abbott De Forest New City, N.Y.

Appl. No. 857,481

Filed Sept. 12, 1969 Patented Mar. 30, 1971 Assignee Secon Metals Corporation White Plains, N.Y.

WIRE PACKAGE INCLUDING ENCASED SPOOL 7 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

U.S. Cl 242/137.1, 206/52 Int. Cl B65h 49/18 Field of Search 242/ 137, 137.1, 138; 206/52, 59

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS Gray 242/138 Retherford 242/137.1 Hirst 206/52 Rosen... 242/138 Rosen 206/52 Primary Examiner-Leonard D. Christian Attorney-Posnack, Roberts & Cohen ABSTRACT: A spool of wire is encased in a cylindrical casing provided with an axially aligned slot for dispensing the wire. The spool has an outer flange with a diameter corresponding to the outer diameter of the casing so that a portion of the flange is juxtaposed to an end of the slot. The free end of the wire is detachably connected to said portion by a piece of masking tape or the like. A post in the casing supports the spool and O-rings on the post to prevent movement of the spool from the casing.

. P te ged mmh 30, 1971 3,572,605

PRIOR ART INVENTOR RAYMOND ABBOTT De FOREST M W 41w ATTORNEYS WIRE PACKAGE INCLUDING ENCASED SPOOL BACKGROUND For various manufacturing techniques involving the use of wire, the handling of the wire during shipment and prior to actual use may be extremely critical. For example, in ultrasonic bonding techniques, operators should preferably not touch the wire since any contamination such as finger oils may interfere with the bond and will reduce reliability.

Also, in many cases, the wire employed may be so thin (e.g., one-thousandth of an inch in diameter or less) that it can readily be broken during transmission.

For the above and other reasons, there has evolved a package wherein a spool of wire is encased in a plastic casing provided with a slot through which the wire can be dispensed. Such a package is illustrated in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 1 will be seen a casing and a spool 12.

The casing 10 is manufactured of a transparent plastic of suitable strength said casing being provided with an axially extending post 14 which serves to position the package on the machine in which the package willbe employed. The casing 10 has a closed end 16 and an open end 18. Within the casing is provided a centrally located post 20 through which extends a bore 22.

The spool 12 is mounted on the post 20. The spool 12 ineludes an inner flange 24 and an outer flange 26. These two flanges are of equal diameter and are attached to the ends of a cylindrical wall 28 on which there is found a coil 30 of wire.

The spool 12 can be locked in the casing 10 by applying over the protruding end of the post 20 one or more O-rings (not shown). g

The free ends 32 of the wire on the spool 12 will be for purposes of shipment attached to the casing 10 by means of a piece 34 of masking tape or of such other material as will be able to be detachably connected to the free end 32 for purposes of subsequent removal for use in the associated machine.

The other end of the wire can be attached to the flange 24 as indicated at 36 by means of lacquer or the like.

The aforesaid package of the prior art is satisfactory to the extent that contamination by an operator is generally prevented. This follows from the fact that the wire is generally shielded by the casing 10 from the hands of the operator. The package is moreover advantageous in that it can be mounted in entirety on the machine which the wire and thus the package represents a great convenience. The wire can be readily dispensed through a slot in the casing which is provided for this purpose.

The illustrated package has however resulted in a number of difficulties which it is the object of the present invention to overcome. A first pack of these difiiculties is that due to the attachment of the free end 32 to the casing by piece 34 of masking tape and due further to the possibilities of rotation of the spool 12 on the post 20 any slight rotation of the spool during shipment can break the terminationas a result of which the wire becomes useless. Moreover, because of the very fine size of the wire generally employed it is possible that the wire itself can be broken thereby making the package essentially useless.

In addition to the above the packaging of wire 'is generally a mass production technique and it has been found extremely difiicult to terminate the wire on the casing whilemaintaining high standards of production.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide animp'roved package which avoids the possibility of separating the termination of a wireand'which at the same time avoids the possibility of wire breakage during shipment and during 'preusage.

protecting wire form contamination such as may be caused by handling of the wire by operators or the like.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION In achieving the above and other objects of the invention there is provided a wire package-comprising a casing having an open end and a slot extending from this open end the casing further including an internal post extending outwardly through the open end. A spool is mounted on the post and is adapted to rotate thereon. An end'member fixed on the spool includes a portion adjacent the slot where the latter extends from the open end. A means is provided which prevents egress of the spool from the casing. A coil of wire is wound on the spool and includes a free end which extends to the aforenoted portion. Means are provided detachably connecting the free ends to the aforesaid portion.

The spool will include at least two end flanges one of which is at least a part of the aforesaid end member and the other of which is accommodated internally of the casing. The flanges are circular members and the flange which constitutes the end member has a larger diameter than the other of the two said flanges.

The casing is preferably cylindrical in shape and the aforenoted larger diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the casing.

Means may further be provided limiting the extent to which the spool can move into the casing and further providing a clearance between the open end of the casing and the flange of larger diameter. The aforenoted end member may further include a second circular member having a diameter which is at least substantially equal to that of the aforesaid other flange.

DRAWlNG:

FlG. l is a side view of an encased spool in accordance with the prior art;

FIG. 2 is a corresponding view of the improved package in accordance with one embodiment of the invention; and

FIG. 3 is partly sectional view of said package with the wire detached and being dispensed from within the casing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION ln FIGS. 2 and 3 are illustrated a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance with which the aforesaid objectives are achieved.

More particularly in FIG. 2 is illustrated a transparent plastic casing 40 having a closed end 42 and an open end 44. The casing is provided with an axially extending post 46 which aids in positioning the casing on the machine in which the package will be employed.

lntemally of the casing is a chamber 48 wherein is provided a base 50 which as will be noted hereinunder limits the extent to which the spool 52 can penetrate into the casing.

The casing 40 is provided with a slot 54 extending axially of the casing and having an open end 56 adjacent the open end 44 of the casing 40.

Exteridingfrom the base 50 is a post 51 on which the spool 52 is supported and on which the spool is adapted to rotate for the dispensing of wire. The'post 51 as is seen in the drawing protrudes from the'open end of the casing 40.

Spool 52 is provided at one end with a flange 58, this flange being fixed on' the cylindrical wall 60-constituting the center portion of the spool.

At the other end of the cylindrical wall 60 is aflixed a first flange 62 having a diameter atleast substantially equal to the flange 58 and a second flange 64 of substantially greater diameter. Flanges 62 and 64 can be integrally formed or they can be two separate flanges mounted on the outer end of the cylindrical wall 60.

An inspection of the drawing will illustrate that the diameter of the large flange 64 is substantially equal tothe outer diameter of the cylindrical casing 40. For this reason the flange 64 includes a portion 66 which is juxtaposed to the open end 56 of the slot 54. As a result it is possible to attach a free end 68 of the coil of wire 70 which is mounted on the spool 52 through the portion 66 in such a manner that it can be readily detached and drawn through the slot 54 for dispensing in welding and other types of bonding operations. For this purpose a piece 72 of masking tape is employed by means of which the free end 68 is attached to the flange 64.

The attachment of the free end 68 to the flange 64 has a number of significant advantages. First of all, with the free end being attached to the flange 64 rotation of the spool 52 cannot cause a detachment of the termination of the wire from the flange 64 because the flange 64 rotates with the spool since it is a part thereof. Moreover, it is impossible to apply any tension to the wire itself because of rotation of the spool and this will prevent a breaking of the wire during shipment of the same and during preusage period.

in addition to what ha been noted above it will be seen that there is a clearance 74 which the flange 64 and the end 44 of the casing 40. This clearance exceeds the total thickness or protrusion of free end 68 and piece 72 so that should there be rotation of the spool 52 relative to the casing, this will not cause an engagement between the piece 72 and the end of the casing in such a manner as might cause detachment.

It will be noted that O-rings 76 and 78 are mounted around the protruding end of the post 51. Normally, these are urged against the flange 64 and thereby press the spool 52 into the casing with the flange 58 engaged against the base 50. This is intended generally to prevent rotation of the spool 52 relative to the casing but if it does not the rotation which might occur will not be harmful in view of the aforegoing provisions.

lt should be noted that for use it is intended the O-rings 76 and 78 be slightly withdrawn outwardly on the post 5] to reach the spool 52 for rotation.

FIG. 3 illustrates the dispensing of wire W through the slot 54 after the free end has been detached from the flange 64. The wire is withdrawn intentionally to minimize forces acting on the wire and is dispensed from the spool 52 as required, the casing 40 preventing engagement of the wire by the fingers of the operator and therefore preventing contamination of the same.

In the aforesaid construction it will be noted that the additional advantages obtained is that the wire is terminated on the flange 64 instead of on the casing 40 as was the custom with the packages heretofore employed. Terminating the wire on the package is an extremely difficult matter in production and thus a further advantage insures to the benefit of the invention.

There will now be obvious to those skilled in the art many modifications and variations of the apparatus and method set for above. These modifications and variations will not however depart from the scope of the invention if defined by the following claims.

lclaim:

l. A wire package comprising a casing having an open end and a slot extending from said open end, said casing further including an internal post extending outwardly through said open end, a spool on said post and adapted to rotate thereon, an end member fixed on said spool including a portion adjacent said slot where the latter extends from said open end, means preventing egress of the spool from the casing, a coil of wire on said spool including a free end extending to said portion, and means detachably connecting said free end to said portion.

2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spool includes at least two end flanges one of which is at least a part of said end member and the other of which is accommodated internally of said casing, said flanges being circular members, the flange constituting the end member having a larger diameter than the other of the two flanges.

3. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the casing is cylindrical and said larger diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of said casing. I I

4. A package as claimed in claim 3 wherein the casing includes means limiting the extent to which the spool can move into the casing and providing a clearance between said open end of the casing and the flange of larger diameter.

5. A package as claimed in claim I wherein the last said means includes a pressure-responsive adhesive holding said free end to said portion.

6. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein said end member includes a further circular member having a diameter which is at least substantially equal to that of said other flange.

7. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means connecting the free end to said portion and the free end cooperatively extend above said portion by an amount which is less than said clearance. 

1. A wire package comprising a casing having an open end and a slot extending from said open end, said casing further including an internal post extending outwardly through said open end, a spool on said post and adapted to rotate thereon, an end member fixed on said spool including a portion adjacent sAid slot where the latter extends from said open end, means preventing egress of the spool from the casing, a coil of wire on said spool including a free end extending to said portion, and means detachably connecting said free end to said portion.
 2. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spool includes at least two end flanges one of which is at least a part of said end member and the other of which is accommodated internally of said casing, said flanges being circular members, the flange constituting the end member having a larger diameter than the other of the two flanges.
 3. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein the casing is cylindrical and said larger diameter is substantially equal to the outer diameter of said casing.
 4. A package as claimed in claim 3 wherein the casing includes means limiting the extent to which the spool can move into the casing and providing a clearance between said open end of the casing and the flange of larger diameter.
 5. A package as claimed in claim 1 wherein the last said means includes a pressure-responsive adhesive holding said free end to said portion.
 6. A package as claimed in claim 2 wherein said end member includes a further circular member having a diameter which is at least substantially equal to that of said other flange.
 7. A package as claimed in claim 4 wherein the means connecting the free end to said portion and the free end cooperatively extend above said portion by an amount which is less than said clearance. 